Ch 3

The dark, cloudy sky did nothing to dampen the moods of the two royals as they walked around the grounds of the unfinished castle, enjoying the small break in the downpour that was now a light sprinkle. Caspian felt no hurry to return to the court, knowing she would be whisked away from him once the news spread. He much preferred to have her to himself, leaning against his side, hand in hand. Caspian had no doubt that her arrival would cause a great stir throughout Narnia. He needed to enjoy this privacy while it lasted.

"I can't believe you did all this! How long has it taken?" she questioned, interrupting his thoughts.

"We began within the month after your family left. That was a little over three years ago." A sad time it had been, though quite productive.

"My, my, you have been busy," she chuckled.

"I needed the distraction, Susan." Turning serious, he added, "I tried everything possible to rid my mind of you, but it never worked. When dealing with matters of diplomacy, your siblings and you were nearly always mentioned. I tried finding new books to read, but every princess or queen I would compare with you. So then I tried occupying my time with training, yet every bow and arrow brought thoughts of my archer queen."

A look of awe had crossed her face. Hearing the evidence of his devotion, her heart ached with love for him. Suddenly he looked down; fixing her with a warm gaze as a tentative hand slowly came up to caress her cheek.

"You pierced my heart the moment I first saw your arrow drawn and ready to fire. Since then, it has spread till everything I am, became yours," Caspian smiled as he cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand.

Silent tears trickled from the corners of her eyes, meeting his calloused fingers as he brushed them away.

"Why do you cry, love?" he asked in earnest.

"Do not mistake them, Caspian, for they are tears of happiness." Susan smirked. "Never in my life did I dream or expect this devotion you have given me. I just wish I was as eloquent at conveying how much I love you."

Both of his hands came up to completely encase her face, and though they were damp from the falling rain, as everything else was, she couldn't deny the warmth they gave.

"I think you convey them well enough, my dear Susan," he smiled teasingly. "However, should you ever feel that your words are insufficient, I'm sure my mind would quickly be put to ease by a kiss."

In response, Susan let out a laugh that increased in volume when Caspian pouted; disappointed she hadn't acted on his suggestion. As her laughter continued, the King couldn't contain his own smile as he listened to the glorious chorus of bells that was her laugh. That sound alone could raise his spirits like none other in the world.

Once her laughs had subsided, Susan looked up at her Prince Charming with a smile and finally obliged his request. The instant their lips met, the familiar passion that had always resided within was awakened in them both as they clung to each other. Feeling ever slope of his body against hers while they continued to taste each other's mouths, Susan was amazed at how the contours of their bodies matched up so perfectly. It only added confirmation that they truly did belong to one another.

Another clap of thunder filled the sky, breaking the couple apart as once more a wave of pelting raindrops fell from the sky. Grabbing her hand, Caspian quickly led them back inside a completed wing of the castle. Moving to a covered balcony that held a bench seat, the two royals sat with Caspian straddling the bench, easing Susan between his legs so she could lean back against his chest.

They remained silent for a while, each enjoying the others embrace while their thoughts caught up with the sudden events that had occurred.

"I don't think I've smiled this much since the last time I was in Narnia," Susan mused out loud.

"That would make two of us," Caspian sighed.

"Three years is an awful long time, Caspian," she replied. "It can't all have been that bad."

"Just because they weren't bad years, doesn't mean they were necessarily good, my love," he responded, "or at least, as good as they could have been. They were simply incomplete."

"I think I can understand the sentiment," she sighed contently, her head falling further onto his shoulder.

Caspian then began to fill her in on all the work he and his council had put in to restoring peace throughout Narnia and with their neighboring countries.

"You accomplished all that in three years?" Susan asked in amazement. "I knew you were going to be an amazing ruler!" She punctuated the statement with a loving kiss to his cheek.

"It was not by my efforts alone, love," he smiled against her neck as he whispered. "The council has been most helpful, even if they do occasionally cause such problems the make me contemplate getting rid of them all."

"Such as?"

Caspian hesitated, wondering if it would be such a good idea to reveal the current situation at the castle to Susan.

Confused at his silence, Susan sat up and turned to face him.

"Surely it can't be that bad Caspian?" she asked, worried that there may be trouble in the kingdom after all.

"It is not so much a matter of state, but of a more personal nature that they have caused me distress over the last year," he explained. The silence continued as he still worked on figuring out how to break the news to her.

"My love," she spoke gently, grabbing his face in both her hands. "There shouldn't be any secrets between us, especially if it is in regards to something that distresses you. You said you wanted to share your life with me. I take that seriously and don't plan on sitting on the sidelines while you face these issues. Let me help you." She pleaded the last phrase so softly he couldn't help the tug of guilt he felt for even considering hiding something from her.

He placed a soft kiss to her lips before pulling back again. "Very well," he agreed. Holding up a finger of warning he continued, "Just remember this wasn't my idea. It was done against my wishes and I wanted to throttle every member of the council that had a hand in it."

"I'm waiting Caspian," she smiled encouragingly, folding her hands into her lap.

"Since I took the throne, there has been much concern amongst the council regarding the stability of the royal line. Specifically in regards to finding a good alliance for me to marry."

"Oh," Susan gasped softly.

Caspian hurried on to explain. "For obvious reasons I was against the very idea of marrying. At the beginning of my rule they were all very understanding. What with all the work to be done and the continued discussion amongst the people regarding our, umm…. farewell." he finished out, wondering how to phrase it without causing her too much discomfort. "But, it didn't take too long after the first year had passed for them to start dropping hints every now and then. For a little while longer, many of them agreed that I needed more time to heal over your departure. Slowly they all came to the same opinion that I needed to put Narnia's needs before my own. But it still sets my teeth on edge the decision they made behind my back."

"What did they do?" Susan said, finding a break in his rushed explanation to speak.

"This morning, it was brought to my attention that suddenly a large group of ladies began arriving at the castle. When I questioned what was going on in my own home, I was informed that some members of the council had invited eligible ladies from some of our allies to stay at the castle to allow me closer access to my options for a bride," he finished with a growl.

"How dare they!" Susan exclaimed. "They completely overstepped their bounds as an advisory council. I hope you set them back in their place."

"Indeed I did, my Gentle Queen," he chuckled at her fierce response. "However, the idea was voiced that I might as well let the ladies stay for a while and focus on at the very least establishing diplomatic relations."

"How long?" she spoke out of curiosity.

"I have yet to meet any that have arrived, but after chastising my council it was agreed they could stay for three months," he sighed in disappointment. He knew it had been a horrible idea to agree to in the first place. Now he felt more uncomfortable for the awkwardness it would bring Susan rather than him.

Susan couldn't help the way her body tensed at the news.

"Exactly how many ladies accepted the invitation?" she questioned, turning around to avoid his gaze. The notion of returning to the castle under the present circumstances suddenly brought her great discomfort. How could she face the council and the invited guests without causing a great deal of awkwardness and at least some resentment?

So caught up in her thoughts, she didn't realize the silence that surrounded her as Caspian observed her suddenly stiff and withdrawn countenance. After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, the King moved to kneel in front of his fiancé.

"Susan," he called, but her gaze remained fixed on her hands. Sighing in frustration, he gently grasped her chin and moved her face to look at his. "A moment ago you said we should not keep secrets from one another, that we need to accept assistance from each other when we are distressed. You are clearly upset by this news, why? Do you doubt my love and devotion for you? Do you think some simpering female or entitled councilman will be able to make me break my promise to marry you?"

"Oh no, Caspian," she reassured him quickly. "I have no doubts about us or our decision. However, I am worried about the repercussions that may occur because of it."

"I do not understand. How could they possibly have grounds to dispute something that has clearly been decided and blessed by Aslan himself?" he questioned.

"Some may not realize that. If we are not very careful and diplomatic about this, there could be some feelings hurt that could harm the peace you have worked so hard for," she explained. "Just because the King makes a decision, doesn't mean everyone will agree to it. Who knows how some of the ladies or council members will react?"

"I understand, my love," he sighed in resignation. "But that doesn't mean I will give in. You will be my wife, Susan. I don't know what the reactions will be or how we will handle it. I just know that we will do it together. Surely if we do that, we will succeed. Will you believe in that?"

"I believe in you, my lord," she smiled lovingly. Hearing his confidence and absolute faith had successfully banished the fears that had earlier been in her mind. "I'm not exactly sure how we should proceed, although I do believe it best that we announce our intentions sooner rather than later."

"I can announce our engagement to the council as soon as we return," he said vehemently.

"No, we must ease them into the idea more gently then that," she said softly, not wanting him to think she wanted to keep them a secret she gave another option. "But I do think you should meet with them as soon as possible in the morning and announce that we are officially courting. That way, I could be included in the group of the potential suitors they brought, and they cannot question when it becomes noticeable that we have already established a relationship."

"I'll call for the meeting once we return to the castle," he agreed. "However, I don't want them to insert you into the activities of the gossiping young ladies they brought to my home. The entire kingdom is still quite aware of my feelings for you, Susan. And I don't think it will surprise them, or cause any objections, if I include you in certain ways that are expected of a future Queen." He smiled fondly at this idea; excited that what were once dreams would soon be his reality.

"Who am I to object to the King's orders?" she teased, taking his hands gently into hers. "As long as I am able to spend as many minutes in the day as possible with you, my love."

Pleased with her response and that the previous tense mood had been lifted, Caspian moved back to sit on the bench, and proceeded to take Susan in his arms and thoroughly kiss her.

"It is getting late, my King," she said after catching her breath from the passionate kiss. "Perhaps we should return. After all, we are both soaked to the bone and should warm ourselves before we catch a chill."

"Indeed," he agreed reluctantly. "Though I dread the thought of you being removed from my sight for even a moment. I would hate to awaken and find this all to be a dream." He bent his head to rest their foreheads together, brushing his nose against hers.

"I fear the same, Caspian," she whispered. "I wish we could marry now, that way we wouldn't have to separate. But until that day comes, I promise I will spend every waking moment by your side, until you grow sick of my company." She chuckled softly as she smiled up at her fiancé.

"That will never happen," Caspian answered, placing a chaste kiss to her nose. "My Queen, my love, my dearest Susan." He punctuated each endearment with a kiss to each check before finally landing on her lips. Again, passion swept over the royal couple as Caspian pulled Susan onto his lap while her arms wrapped around his neck. As she enjoyed the warm sensation of his lips on hers, her fingers slowly find their way into his long locks, tugging lightly on the ends. This produced a deep growl from Caspian, causing him to slant his mouth over her and deepen the kiss as his tongue tangled with her own.

Knowing that must return to the castle, they slowly broke apart, yet the grins that had crossed their faces remained in place throughout the journey on the back of Destrier, Caspian's faithful black stallion.